Earth tamper for concrete highway side forms



Jan. l, 1935. F. cREAsoN l EARTH TAMPER FOR CONCRETE HIGHWAY SIDE FORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 9, 1932 lIam. 1, 1935. F, CREASON I EARTH TAMPER FOR CONCRETE HIGHWA'Y SIDE FORMS Filed April 9, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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EARTH TAMPER FOR CONCRETE HIGHWAY SIDE FORMS Filed April 9, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 5 amen/tof:

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@LW/Immo Jan. l, 1935. F: cREAsoN EARTH TAMPER AFOR CONCRETE HIGHWAY SIDE FORMS Filed April 9, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 n -vi v .v

UNITED STATES Par-ENT oFFicE EARTH "retirenl Fon CONCRETE HIGHWAY lsimi- FoRMs Frank Creason, Excelsior- Springs, Mo. Application Apri1 '9, 1932, serial 10.604,304

34 Claims. (Cl;"`94-4'8) y This application is a continuation in part of AFig'. -2v is an enlarged perspective View showrny original U. S. patent application Serial No. ing Athe other side of the machine. y l 535,019, iiled May 4, 1931. v Fig.' 3. is aside elevation partlyin section Vvof. In the construction of concrete highways, it thetside of the machine shown in Fig. 2, showing is customary to lay heavy metal side forms alongv the tamping mea-ns at saidside swung upwardly 5.

the grade to. retain the concrete wli'enpoured4k tofan inoperative position. and to support the heavy concrete finishing. Fig. 4 is abottom plan View. y machines. It is essential that the sidefo'rmsbe Fig-.15 is a detail horizontal sectionalview on held aganSt dOWnWard springing to any appre-y line 5-45' of Fig. 2 showing part of the means forV cable extent and that all spaces betweeny them holding the shiftably mounted tamping means 10- and the ground be filled, and itis therefore cusin lowered' position. 1 p tOmary to tamp earth solidly underf said side Fig. '6 is a fragmentary perspective View showfOrmS, by hand. It is the principal object of ing therla'tch which is instrumental in` holding. my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive the-aforesaid shiftablymounted tampingmeans l5v and economical motor-actuated machine -for ill-OperatVe DOSOH- 15;

lperforming` the earth-tamping operation, i said 1F-ig. 17y is a: vertical transverse sectionaliview machine being of such nature as to not onlyac- Substantially on line 7--7 of Figs. 1 ande.

cOmplish the same amount of work now requirf `Figs. V 8 and. Sfare. fragmentary perslgiectiveA ing a number of men, but to perform thetamping viewslof spacers which are used in conditioning 2O` more thoroughly. the vmachine forv operation upon larger side 20 It is very often customary on account of informs. adequate appropriations, to constructhalfthe The machine herein disclosed .embodies a Width of a concrete highway at one time'and tok carriage C constructed to travel upon a `side later add the other half when `funds areavailformfl.,twin.tampingmeans T and T'. mounted 2a able. In adding this last hair, one oft-he` sideony said carriage in. laterally spaced 'relatonto 25V form is necessarily placed rather close t'ooney Straddle V"the: side form F, a small motor M:` edge of the previously completed halt andi-,hemounted. on thecarriage C, and actuating CGI-'1 5 space necessarily leftl between"-the' two' halvesv Iiections between saidV motor and. the actual is later iilled in with concrete. This space lis earth tamp'ersv 10 and 10 of the twin tamping y insufficient to allow operation ofone of the twin means.'[`"and"'ll. "The tamping meaIlS T' 1S 30` taznping means of -the machine-therein, and itis ordinarily irl-'21 lowered Position as Shown l. therefore a further object `of the invention ,to1 Egsifzflf' and 7 and the tamping means 1S; provide a unique construction in'which said one always'V 111 the lowered POSDOII Sh0Wr1I1`F1gS- tamping means may be raised to a position above 1, 413ml' '7, but in @aise there is msumcent room 3.3 the side form so that the machine may be opat' thev outside; oi the side form F. to allow` Op- 35 erated to at least tamp the earth 'under and Yin eration of said` tamping means T', it may be Contact with said side form vat theinner Vside vertically .shifted (preferably swung-l` to a posi.-Y

Of the lattltionabover-'said side form, asillustrated in Fig. Another object of the inventionlisto 'provide 3. yWhile' this can' be effected any time an 0b* 4o a machine which willl be well *balanced bythe ystruction exists 'at the outer side 'of the side 40 tamping means at opposite sidesof the sideform, form, .itis usually 4done only whenv laying the along and under which the vearth isV being secondrhalf of a concrete highwaypas previously tamped. explainediherein. When thetamping means T A still further object is to provide a''fm'achine is'flowered, this tampingV means and the tampwhich `may readily b e conditioned to operate ing flmeans T,.straddle the side form F and the 45 upon side form of 'one width and height, or'uponl tampers 10..and 10 solidly pack the earth under another width and height, there being two sizes and'V in lContact rwith said side forms, and the' of these forms vcommonly in use. `l tamping means T` will effectively kperform its With the foregoing and minor objects inv'iew,v work at" the inner Aside of the side form F 'when the invention resides in the novel subjeot'matter the tampingl means T' is raised. The machine 50 hereinafter described andv claimed, ,description ispropelled bythe motor M, along the side form, being accomplished by reference tothe accom-f and a; transport wheel 11 and transport ,handle Dalmine drawings. n 12, `are employed for use when the machineis t0 Fgl iS 9 perspetiveview showing-onefside be taken from the side' formr and ,transported of the machine. l from fone point .to another, said wheel '11 and. 55'

handle 12 being both mounted in novel ways as hereinafter described. The wheel 11 normally occupies an idle position in which it may roll upon the side form F as shown in Fig. 1, and the handle 12 then stands upright as shown in this view, so that the hand grips 13 may be held in the operators hands to steady the machine against lateral tilting while in use. The wheel 11 and handle l12 however, may both be moved to and held in lowered positions when the machine is to be moved upon the ground, and in Fig. 3, the handle has been shown in transport position.

Specific details of the machine herein disclosed will now be described, with the understanding however that Within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor variations may be made.

The carriage C embodies av base formed pri-v marily of a length of channel metal 14 whose side flanges 15 and 16 project downwardly for disposition at opposite sides of the form F, and between the rear ends of these anges, la brace plate 17 is shown. The carriage C is provided with double-flanged yrollers 18 secured upon front and rear transverse shafts 19 and 20 which are connected by a chain 21 and suitable sprockets. Both shafts 19 and 20 pass through vertical notches 22 in the anges 15 and 16 and are rotatable in suitable bearings 23 secured by bolts 24 against the outer sides of said flanges. These flanges are formed with vertically spaced bolt holes 25 allowing relative vertical adjustments of the carriage base 14 and the shafts 19 and 20, according to the height of the side form F or the extent which the tamping means must be spacedfrom-the ground to obtain the best results. Ihe rollers 18 may be of one length or another, according to the Width of the side form, andthe twin tamping means T and T may be spaced apart one distance or another, according to said width.

At the edge of the carriage base 14 for dispositionat the inner side of the form F, is a horizontal plate 26 having a vertical longitudinal flange 27 secured by bolts or the like. 28A to the flange 15, said flange 27 being formed with a notch 29 .through which the shaft 20 passes. 'I'he rear end of plate 26 is forwardly spaced from the rear end of thecarriage base 14 and is provided with a transverse downwardly project-l ing vertical ange 30. At the ,rear side of this flange 30 and rigidly bolted or otherwise secured in the angle between said flange 30 and the flange 15, is a vertical tamper mount 31 which is preferably off-.the kchannel shape shown, said mount projecting both` upwardly and downwardly from the carriage base 14 and being provided at itslower end with a Aguide 32 for the tamper 10, said guide being so positioned that said tamper diverges upwardly from the innerside ofr the.V

form F in Vposition to tamp in contact with said form.

Directly opposite the tamper mount 31, is a vertical `plate 33 which is secured at its lower end to the flange 16, by bolts or the like 34. .The upper end of plate 33 'is ataboutrthe sameele-r vation as .the upper end of the tamper mount 31, and said upper ends are secured to a trans-` the earth underand verse member 35, said' member 35-having down-5 turned ends to one of which the tamper mount 31 is boltedat 36, and to the other ofk which the plate33 is secured by bolts or the like 36. When the machine is to operate upon a wider side form, the cross member 35 may be entirely. removedand-a longer cross member 35. (Fig. 9)

substituted. The lower end of plate 33 is then spaced outwardly from the flange 16, by the spacer 37 shown in Fig. 8, said spacer being secured to the plate 33 by the bolts 34 and being secured to the flange 16 by other bolts (not shown) which may be inserted through the bolt holes 38 of the spacer and through the bolt holes 39 of the flange 16.

vAt the outer side of the plate 33, is a second tamper mount 31 which is substantially a duplicate of the mount 31, the lower end of said `mount 31' being provided with a guide 32' for the tamper 10'. By any desired means, such as the two washers 40 and 4l and the bolts 42 (Figli), the tamper mount 31 is mounted upon the plate 33 so that said mount may either occupy a vertical position as shown for instance nin Figs. 2 and 7, or an upwardly swung position as shown in Fig. 3. A single latch 43 (Figs. 6 and 3) may well be employed to hold the mount 31 in raised position and to assist in holding it in lowered position, said latch being adapted to abut one edge or the other of the plate 33. When the mount 31 is in its vertical position, a hook 44on its front side receives the front edge portionof the plate 33, and a flangey 45. projecting rearwardly from said mount, is receivable in a rigid hook 46 on the rear end of a short plate 47 which is interposed between the lower end'ofl plate 33 and the flange 16, and is secured by the bolts 34. The front end of plate 47 is rearwardly spaced from the front edge of the plate 33, so thatl the hook 44 may enter between said plate 33 and the ilange 16, as shown inFig. ,5.

Secured in the upper end portions of the channels of the two tamper mounts 31 and 31', are two horizontally alined bearings 48 and 48 respectively, in which atransverse horizontal shaft 49 is rotatably mounted, said shaft being driven by a V-belt 50, pulleys 51 and 52, and a clutchV 53, from the motor M. This shaft 49, through the instrumentality of suitable chains 54 and 55, and coacting sprockets, drives the shaft 19, effecting driving of both rollers 18 to propel the machine along the side form. These driving connections between the shafts 49 and 19 are shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

The ends of the shaft 49 are provided with eccentrics and 60 respectively, disposed at the outer sides kof the tamper mounts 31 and 31', and by means of resilient pitman rods 61 and 61', said eccentrics are connected with bell cranks 62 and 62' which are fulcrumed in the channels of the mounts 31 and 31` respectively. The bell crank 62 is directly pivoted to the 'tamper 10 and the bell crank 62' is similarly pivoted to thetamper 10. Rotation of the shaft 49 thus serves to effect reciprocation of both of these'rtampers, and the yieldable pitman rods 61 and 61 allow for any vvariance in the travel of said tampers, occasioned by contact thereof with stones, unusually hard earth, etc.

`Rotation of the shaft 49 -may be started or stopped by means of the clutch 53, and to control said clutch, a vertical clutch lever 63 and a hand-operated cam lever 64 are preferably employed, said cam lever being mounted on the cross member 35.

The pitman rods 61 and 61 are preferably of the constructionV detailed in Fig. 3. At its ends, the rod embodies two blocks 65 and 66 respectively, the one connected with the eccentric andthe other with the bell crank. U-shaped yokes 67 and 68 straddle the blocks 65 and 66 respectively'and are pivoted thereto. at 69 and'm; on axes: at right angles; t'o thev block pivots. yA rod 71. extends. between:` the 'two yoke's, passes slidably throughopenings 72 and: 73 thereof and is provided with heads 74 and'75` lying Within A saidwyokes. A .coiledl compression 'spring 76- surrounds the' rodl 712 and .atyits endssabuts the yokes'l'and 68. Notionlydoes the'pitman rod lconstructed 1inV thisl'manner, allow for variances in the. travel of. the tamper, but `the operation of the machine asma whole'is `mate-- rially cushion-ed'thereby.

The transport. wheel 11 above mentionedis rotatable upon a stub-axle '77 which is carried r by thevfronti end of an arm '78,. the'rear endof this-arm being provided witha transverse. sliaft 79 slidable through guide openings in the flanges 15 'and 16,y the openingiof the Viiange. 16 `being shown. at` 80 in Fig. 2.. A collar 81 is secured on shaft 79, anda coiled compression spring 82 surrounds said-shaft and bears at its ends against the iiange 15 .and said collar, holding the shaft in aposition shifted endwise ,inone direction. When the arm 78 is in the raised position herein shown, it overlies, an abutment 83 (Figs. 1 and 4), said abutmentA having an upper edge84 soinclined as to effect sliding of the shaft 79 against the action of the spring 82, when the arm 78 is forced downwardly. Hence, as soon as the arm 78 is moved downwardly sufficiently' far Ato clear the abutment 83, it will besnapped under said abutment by the spring 82, it being thus insured that. the arm '78 and wheel 11 shall be Yheld in lowered position when it is desired to transport the machine.

The transporting handle 12 is provided with.

an oblique fronty end 85 which isrotatably received in an inclinedA bearing -.securedto the rear portion of the` carriage base` 14. Suitable means 87 is employed for lcontractingthe bear.

ing 86 to hold the handle end 85 kagainst accidental turning, but upon release ofV said meansl 87, the handle may beV swung from the vertical 3, or vice versa.

it has been moved. f

I preferably mount Van oil tank 88 vuponwthe ycarriage and provide said tank-withY an air.V

compressing pump 89 and with an oil discharge tube 90 (Fig. 4), said tube being positioned to spray oil upon the inner sideoffthe form F, as

the machine. advances. Thus, the necessary formA oiling is accomplished simultaneously with tamping. The other tank 91, is merely thejfuel tank of the motor M. 92 is the motor muiiier and 9.3' Thetank. 88v

suitable foot-starting mechanism. has been omitted from Fig. v3; Y

With the machine resting *uponthe side form, it is propelled along the latterand the `twin tamping means T and T operated, thereby ef fectively tamping the earth under and in contact with said side form, Whenever,` for` one reason or another, therevismotfample.space to, allow operation of theftamping means T', the

chine .against lateral tilting.V .Lateral steadying'v pressure may be exerted uponthe handA grips 13 tohold a guide shoe 94 at the lower end of the mountl, against the innerside of. the formv During Esaidrsh'oeabeing shown'in Figs.V 1I and: 4. Ordinarily, however, no sucht attentionwill be required, for. inwconstructing the machine, the

weight'of carriage-.supported parts is so placed l azsfto. slightlyoverbalance the carriage toward the upperedge of. said form. The machine will Y thus maintain. itselfA upright,.and`being guided by,l the sideform andselfi-propelled, it ,may continuously advance and pack the earth continuously during such. advancing, without requiring any attention. except. as. tozrnotor operation, .lu--

brication, etc. Evenif the tampers 10 and 10 encounterstonesor an excess offdirt, and cannot: therefore moveA downwardly to normal *ex-v tent,r they. will. not eXert upward unhalancing thrusts; tending to. .tilt the machine from. the side form, .due to the resilient nature ofA the pitman rods 6.1.and 61". Attention is invited to Fig. vl',showing'.theinotor.'M mounted partly on plate; 14'. andA partly on the laterally projecting p1ate26, thereby slightly overbalancing the machine toward the innerside of the form F, as above. explained.

WheneverV the machine is to be transported,

handle 12 may beswung to the positionshown.

inFigf 3:and the wheelll pushed downwardly untilitscarrying arm: 78 snaps under the abutment 83. The machine mayxthen. be pushed easily fromplace to place, `as Aa wheelbarrow.

Whileapreferred construction has been herein illustrated, numerous variations may be made withinithe.scopeof'the vinvention as claimed, and itis tot be understood .that I am not therefore restricted to thefspecific disclosure herein made.

, I claimz- 1. A machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form which rests directly upon the groundgcornprising. a carriage constructed to travel upon said side form and to maintain one relation` with said side form during the wholel ofits travel, -a ltamper- Vconstructed and positioned fordeli'vering blows transverse to the side form ina direction to tamp the earth under and in contactwith said side form, means mounting Vsaid tamperv on said carriage, and means foractuating said ,tamper to continuously and:- rapidly deliver tamping blows upon the earth while said carriage is being continuously advancedin said one relation with said side form'.

`2. Amachine for tamping earth under acon-'-` crete side form which restsV directly upon the ground, comprising a carriage `constructed to travelupon` said -sideiorm and to maintain one relation with saidside form-during .the whole of its travel, twin-tamping means'fmounted on-said carriage and spaced apart laterally to straddle said `side form, said twin tamping means being` constructed and positioned' to tamp the earth. under'andincontact' withsaid side form, and' means-*for actuating said, twin tamping means to continuously. and rapidly deliver tamping blows upon theeartth while, said carriage is be,

ing continuously. advanced in said. one relation with said side form. x l 3. A machine for tamping earth under a conf creteA side form which rests directly upon the' ground, comprising. carrglageconstructed to travel upon said side form4 and to maintain one rela-tion with said side form Vduring the .whole of its travel, vertically elongated substantially parallel tamper mounts mounted on said carriage and having their lower. ends projecting downwardly from said carriage to straddle the side form, tampers mounted on said lower ends of said tamper mounts, said tampers being constructed and positioned totamp the earth under and in contact with the side form, and means for actuating said -tampers to continuously and rapidly deliver tamping blows upon the earth while said carriage is being continuously advanced in said one relation with said side form.

4. A machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form which rests directly upon the ground, comprising a carriage constructed to travel upon said side form, vertically elongated tamper mounts mounted on said carriage and having their lower ends projecting downwardly from said carriage to straddle the side form, tampers carried by said lower ends of said tamper mounts, said tampers Ibeing constructed andr positioned to tamp the earth under and in contact with the side form, a transverse shaft mounted near the upper ends of said tamper mounts and having eccentrics at the outer sides of the latter, means on the carriage for driving said shaft, and actuating connections between said eccentrics and said tampers.

5. A machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form which rests directly upon the ground, comprising a carriage constructed to travel upon said side form, two vertically elongated tamper mounts disposed at opposite sides of said carriage and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom, the lower ends of said mounts being adapted to straddle the sidev form, means mounting said tamper mounts up on said carriage, bearings carried by the upper ends of saidtamper mounts, a transverse shaft mounted in said bearings and having eccentrics at the outer sides of said tamper mounts, tampers mounted on the lower ends of said tamper mounts, Aactuating connections between said eccentrics and said tampers, and driving means for said shaft mounted on said carriage.

6. A machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form which rests directly upon the ground, comprising a carriage constructed to travel upon said side form, two vertically elongated tamper mounts which project downwardly from said carriage, ther lower ends of said tamper mounts being positionedy to straddle the side form, a transverse shaft mounted near the upper ends of said'tamper mounts, meansmounting said tamper mounts upon said carriage and including means pivotally mounting one of said tamper mounts on an axis substantially co-axial with said shaft allowing upward swinging of saidone of said tamper mounts about said axis, means for normally holdingsaid one tamper mount against swinging, tampers mounted on the lower ends of said tamper mounts, said tampers being constructed and positioned to tamp the earth under and in contact withthe side form, operating connections between said shaft and said tampers, and driving means for said shaft mounted on said carriage.

7. A'machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form which Vrests directly upon the ground, comprising a carriage to travel upon the side form, said carriage having a 'base which overlies said side form, a vertically elongated tamper mount at one side of said base, said tamper mount being rigidly secured to said base and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom, a vertically elongated plate-at the opposite side of said base, said plate being rigsubstantially co-axial, a driven shaft mounted in said bearings, tampers mounted on the lower ends of said tamper mounts, operating connections between said shaft and said tampers, and means for normally holding said second tamper mount against upward swinging. l

8. Ina machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form resting directly upon the ground, a carriage constructed to travel on the side form, a tamper mount carried by said carriage and projecting downwardly therefrom, a tamper guide secured to the lower end of said mount and declining inwardly transversely of the carriage, a reciprocatory tamper slidably engaged with said guide, a bell crank fulcrumed on said mount and connected with said tamper, a driven eccentric above said bell crank, and connecting means between said eccentric and bell crank.

9. In a tamping machine, a carriage, a vertically elongated channel bar mounted on said carriage, a bearing secured in the upper end of said channel bar, a tamper guide secured in the lower end of said channel bar, a tamper slidably engaged with said tamper guide, a shaft rotatable in said bearing, and actuating connections between said shaft and said tamper.

10. In a tamping machine, a carriage, a vertically elongated channel bar mounted on said carriage, a bearing secured in the upper end of said channel bar, a tamper guide secured in the lower end of said 4channel bar, a tamper slidably engaged ywith said tamper guide, a bell crank fulcrumed in said channel bar above said tamper and connected with the latter, a shaft rotatable in said bearing and having an eccentric above said bellcrank, and connecting means between said eccentric and said bell crank.

11. In a tamping machine, a carriage having a tamper guide, a tamper slidable through said guide, a bell crank fulcrumed on the carriage above said tamper and pivotally connected with the latter, a shaft mounted above said bell crank transverse to the fulcrum thereof and having an eccentric, and a pitman connecting said eccentric with said bell crank.

12. In a tamping machine, a carriage having a tamper guide, a tamper slidable through said guide, a bell crank fulcrumedron the carriage above said tamper and pivotally connected with the latter, a shaft mounted above said bell crank transverse to the fulcrumv thereofv and having an eccentric, a block rotatably engaged with said eccentric, a second block and pivot means pivotally connecting it with said bell crank, two yokes straddling said blocks respectively and pivoted thereto on axes at right angles to the axes of said eccentric and said pivot means, and connecting means between said yokes.

13. In a tamping machine, a carriage having a tamper guide, a tamper slidable through said guide, a bell crank fulcrumed on the .carriage above said tamper and pivotally connected with` the latter, a shaft mountedA above said bell crank transverse to the fulcrum thereof `and having an eccentric, ablock rotatably engaged with said eccentric, a second bloclrf and pivot means pivotally connecting it `with said bell crank, two yokes straddling said blocks respectively and pivoted thereto on axesat right angles to the axes of said eccentric and said `pivot means,`a,.rod connecting said...yokes.and slid-` ably engaged withat leastv one thereof, and a coiled compression spring around said rod and abutting said yokes.

14. In a machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form resting directly upon the ground, a carriage constructed to travel along said side form, a vertically elongated. plate'se. cured tosaid carriage at "one side of the latter, a vertically elongated tamper mountat the outer side oi said plate, means pivotally mounting said mount on said plate for swinging to a raisedposition, means for normally holding said mount against swinging, a tamper mounted on the lower end of said mount, and operating means for'said tamper.

Y l5. In a machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form resting directly upon the ground, a carriage constructed to travel along said side form,` a vertically elongated plate secured to said carriage at one side of the latter, said plate having an opening near its upper end, a vertically elongated tamper mount at the outer side of said plate having a bearing alined with said opening, a driven tamper-operating shaft passing through said opening and said bearing., means surrounding said shaft and pivotally mounting said mount on said plate for swinging to a raised position, means for normally holding. said mount against swinging, a tamper mounted on the lower endv of said mount, and actuating connections between said shaft and said tamper.

16. In a machine for tamping earth under a concrete side form resting directly upon the ground, a carriage constructed to travel along said side form, a vertically elongated tamper mount at one side of said carriage, said mount having a bearing transverse to the carriage, a transverse d r iv e n tamper operating shaft mounted in said bearing, means surrounding said shaft and mounting said mount on said carriage for upward swinging, means for normally holding said mount against swinging, a tamper mounted on the lower end of said mount, and actuating connections between said shaft and said tamper.

17. In a machine of the class described embodying a carriage adapted to travel upon a rail when the machine is in use; a transporting wheel for said carriage, an arm carrying said wheel, a horizontal shaft carrying said arm and extending transversely of the carriage, means slidably and rotatably mounting said shaft on the carriage, spring means for sliding said shaft in one direction, and an abutment on the carriage under which said arm is adapted to snap under' the iniluence o said spring means when swung downwardly to lower the transporting wheel :for use. p v

18. In a machine of the class described embodying a carriage adapted to travel upon a rail when the machine is in use; a normally raised transporting wheel at the front end of the machine, means for holding said wheel in lowered position when required, a rearwardly inclined bearingrigidly carried '.by the rear end of said carriage,fa transporting handlehaving an. oblique front end rotatably :received in said bearing, whereby said handle mayV occupy: either l a `raised or a y.lowered position, and means ,for holding said obliquehandleend.against rotation in said bearing when desired.

19..A machine for tamping earthalong and under asideio-rm'comprising a carriage, means for guiding said. .carriage along said side form and for maintaining Vone relation between said side formandcarriage during the whole..travel. of the latter, tamping means carried by said car riage, means for actuating said .tamping means to .continuously deliver tamping `blows in quick succession to the earth transversely4 of the side'.

form in a direction to tamp said materialfunder said fmember along and under said side form while said guiding means travels thereon andv maintains said carriage-in said one relationxwith said. side form, and means for vertically adjust. ing'said guiding .means tovmaintain the .same

elevation .of-said tamping means relative tothe bases of .side forms of differentheights.

20. A machine for tamping earth along and under a Yside form comprising a carriage to travel upon said side form, tamping means carried by said carriage, guiding means to straddle the top of said side form, and additional guiding means below the rst mentioned guiding means to contact `with a vertical side. of said side form at a point near the base ofsaid form,

.21. `A machine for .tamping earth along and under a side form comprising a tamping means,

means for guiding said tampinglrneans along said side `form during the progression of said tamping operation, and means for simultane-' ously supplying oil toa side 4of said side -iorm during the tamping operation.

22. A tamping machine comprising a self-propelled carriage constructed to alone travel and alone maintain its balance upon a single side form, and driven tamping means on said carriage for continuously tamping earth along and under the side form while the carriage continuously advances along said side form.

23. A tampingmachine comprising a self-pro` pelled carriage constructed to alone travel along and alone maintain its balance upon a single side form, and driven twin tamping means on said carriage for continuously tamping earth along opposite sides oi and under the side form while the carriage is continuously advancing along said side form, said tamping means having resilient portions preventing them from exerting upward unbalancing thrusts on the carriage tending to tilt the latter from the side form.

24. A machine for tamping earth under and along a side form, comprising a carriage, tamping means carried by said carriage for continuously and rapidly delivering tamping blows transverse to the side form in a direction to tamp earth under and along said side form as the carriage advances along the same, and positively driven traction means for advancing said carriage, said traction means being designed to travel upon said side form.

25. A machine for tamping earth under and along a side form, comprising a carriage, tamping means carried by said carriage for continuously and rapidly delivering tamping blows transverse to the side form in a. direction to tamp earth under and along said side form as the carriage advances along the same, positively driven traction means for advancing said carriage, ysaid.i traction inearis`V being designed to travel upon said side form, and a single means `on the carriage for operating Saidtamping tion to tamp said material under saidA memberas said carriage travels along and upon said member. v

. 27. A machine for tamping comprising a carriage constructed to ride directly upon and along a member under which material is to be tamped, a tamping means automatically operated to continuously andxrapidly lstrike successive tamping blows transverse 'to said menriberV in a direction to tamp said material under said member as said carriage travels along and upon said member, and traction means operating upon the member along which said carriage rides to propel said carriage valong said member during the tamping operation. Y

28. A machine for tamping comprising a carriage constructed to ride directly upon' and along a member under which material is 'to be tamped, a tamping means automatically operated to continuously and rapidly strike successive tamping blows transverse to said member in a direction to tamp said material under said member as said carriage travels along and upon said member, traction means operating upon the member along which said carriage rides topropel said carriage along said member during the tamping operation, and a single means for operating` said tamping means andsaid traction means. 29. A structure as specified in claim 21; together with means for placing the oil under pressure.

' resales 30. `A machine i'or tampi'ng l'earthal'ongfa'c'oi'id crete sideform comprising-a carries@ at'amping unit, a transporting wheel, and means for a'd-` justing said transporting ywheel between4x operat'ivefand inoperative positions which is of suoli a' 'structure that the Wheel is substantially in line' with the center of gravity either position. l

31. Afmachine for tamping earth along a con' crete side form comprising a carriage, a tamping unit, a transporting wheel and means'for adjusting said transporting wheel into: such inoperative position that it will roll along said side form.

under a'concrete side form` comprising a carriage, a tamping unit, a transporting wheel, means for adjusting said transporting wheel, and a latch for holding said wheel in any position of adjustment.

33. A machine for tamping earth along a concrete side form comprising a carriage, a transporting wheel movable into and out of operative position, a traction means for effecting movement of said carriage along said side form, and a handle structure movable to one position for transportation of said machine or to another position at which it is accessible for steadying said machine on said side form.

34. A'machine for tamping earth along a concrete side o-rm comprising a carriage, means for eiiecting movement of said carriage along said side form, a handle structure connected to said carriage in such a'manner that it is movable to a position for transportation of said carriage and to a second position at which it is accessible for steadying said carriage on said side form when required, and means for securing said handle structure in either of said positions.

FRANK CREASON.

32. A machine for tamping earth along and of thefapparatus in 

